Fed to lend $85 bn to AIG, take 80% stake

Under the two-year facility US government will receive a 79.9 per cent equity interest in AIG.

The US Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday said the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will lend up to $85 billion to the American International Group in a plan aimed at saving the insurer from a “disorderly failure” that could wreak economic havoc.

The Fed said under the two-year facility the US government will receive a 79.9 per cent equity interest in AIG and has the right to veto payment of dividends to common preferred shareholders in the deal, which has the full support of the Treasury Department.

“The Board determined that, in current circumstances, a disorderly failure of AIG could add to already significant levels of financial market fragility and lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance,” the Fed said in a statement.

Story continues below this ad

The Fed said the loan, secured by all assets of AIG and its primary non-regulated subsidiaries, was designed to assist the insurance giant in meeting its obligations as they come due.

The loan will facilitate a process under which AIG will sell certain of its businesses in an orderly manner, with the least possible disruption to the economy.

The loan is expected to be repaid from proceeds of the sale of the firm’s assets.

US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, in a separate statement, said that US financial regulators were engaged in a broad effort to try to restore some stability to battered financial markets.

Story continues below this ad

“We are working closely with the Federal Reserve, the SEC and other regulators to enhance the stability and orderliness of our financial markets and minimize the disruption to our economy,” Paulson said in a brief statement of support for the Fed’s action.